Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station opened on 1 June 1958 and lies under Lenin Square on the Vyborg Side, in the main building of Finland Station. It is named after the square, which is named for Vladimir Lenin, who arrived at this station in April 1917, and it is one of the deepest stations in the city.
The hall carries a mosaic about Lenin’s speech to workers and soldiers after his arrival, and decorative grilles show the opening year, 1958. The statue of Lenin on an armoured car stands on the square outside. It is a quick stop on Line 1, and a gateway to commuter trains for the Gulf of Finland and the Karelian Isthmus.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Площадь Ленина |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1958 |
| Architect(s) | A. K. Andreyev |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, площадь Ленина (Финляндский вокзал); второй вход — Боткинская улица OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Vyborgsky District |
| Interchanges | Ploshchad Lenina (Line 1, the vestibule inside Finland Station on Lenin Square, or the second pavilion in the park on Botkinskaya Street) Chernyshevskaya (Line 1, previous stop towards Prospekt Veteranov) Vyborgskaya (Line 1, next stop towards Devyatkino) |
| Opening hours | The metro runs daily from early morning until shortly after midnight, and the station follows the network schedule; hours can change with works on the line (as of October 2026 – check the official site of the Saint Petersburg Metro). |
| Best time to visit | The station is indoors, so it works in any season and in any weather. For a calm look at the mosaic, choose midday or a weekend rather than the weekday rush. The square and the monument are best seen in daylight. |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
Why Visit Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg?
This station ties the metro to a famous moment in Russian history: Lenin’s return by train to Petrograd in April 1917. The mosaic in the hall and the monument on the square both refer to that arrival, and the steam locomotive that is said to have pulled his train stands on a platform of the railway station.
It is also one of the deepest stations in the city, and the first metro tunnel under the Neva links it with Chernyshevskaya. You pay only for a metro ride, and 10 to 20 minutes is enough to see the hall and the square.
Highlights of Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
A vestibule inside Finland Station
The first surface vestibule, designed by A. K. Andreyev, is built into the Finland Station building on Lenin Square. The railway station was originally built in 1870, and the main building you see today dates from the 1950s in a functionalist style.
It lets rail passengers walk straight into the metro.
Tip: Follow the metro signs in the railway hall; there is no separate pavilion on the square.
The mosaic of Lenin's speech
A mosaic in the hall, by the artist Korolev, is dedicated to Lenin's speech to the workers and soldiers of Petrograd on 3 April 1917, the day he arrived at Finland Station.
It is the artistic centre of the station and ties it to the history of the square above.
Tip: Look for the mosaic on the end wall of the hall and view it from a few metres back.
Grilles dated 1958
On the walls opposite the platforms, decorative grilles carry the inscription 1958, the year the station opened. The hall is designed in a strict, functional style, like the neighbouring Chernyshevskaya.
They are a small marker of the opening year and easy to miss.
Tip: Look across the tracks from the platform to see them.
One of the deepest stations in the city
Ploshchad Lenina is a deep pylon station, sources giving its depth as roughly 67 to 71 metres, among the deepest in the city. The tunnel to Chernyshevskaya passes under the deepest part of the Neva and was the first in Leningrad to run beneath the river.
The long escalator ride is part of the experience.
Tip: Allow extra time for the escalator, especially if you have luggage.
The Lenin monument on the square
On Lenin Square in front of the station, a statue by S. A. Evseev shows Lenin speaking from an armoured car, the vehicle he used as a platform. It commemorates his arrival in 1917.
A steam locomotive, number 293, said to be the one that hauled his train, stands on a platform of the railway station.
Tip: Visit the monument before going down; it is directly outside the entrance.
The start of the Road of Life
Finland Station was the only railway terminal in Leningrad that kept working during the siege of 1941 to 1943, and the Road of Life began from here. The first train with food for the city arrived in February 1943.
It adds a second layer of history to the square.
Tip: Combine the visit with a look at the railway station hall.
Atmosphere
The square outside is wide and open, with the monument of Lenin on his armoured car in front of the long facade of the railway station. Inside, passengers with luggage move between the trains and the escalators, and the metro entrance is part of the busy station hall.
Below, the hall is deep and calm. The mosaic and the dated grilles add a formal tone, and the platform has the steady quiet of a deep pylon station. It is busiest at train arrivals and in the weekday rush.
History of Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Ploshchad Lenina opened on 1 June 1958 as the terminus of the second stage of the metro, which ran from Ploshchad Vosstaniya. In the early plans it was to be called Finlyandsky Vokzal. The new section made it possible to link all the city’s railway terminals then in use with one metro line: Finland, Moscow, Vitebsk, Baltic and Warsaw stations.
The station takes its name from the square in front of Finland Station, where Lenin arrived by train on 3 April 1917 on his return from exile, and gave a speech from an armoured car to workers and soldiers. The monument by S. A. Evseev on the square commemorates this arrival.
Finland Station itself had been opened in 1870 as the eastern terminus of the line from Finland. It was the only terminal in Leningrad that remained in use during the siege of 1941 to 1943, and the Road of Life began from here. In the 1950s the old building was replaced with a new one in a functionalist style, and the first surface vestibule of the metro, designed by A. K. Andreyev, was built into it.
The hall is a deep pylon station, with sources giving a depth of about 67 to 71 metres. It is designed in a strict functional style, similar to the neighbouring Chernyshevskaya. A mosaic by the artist Korolev recalls Lenin’s speech of 3 April 1917, and decorative grilles carry the date 1958.
The tunnel connecting Ploshchad Lenina with Chernyshevskaya runs under the deepest part of the Neva and was the first in Leningrad to pass beneath the river. This is one reason why both stations are among the deepest in the world.
On 4 August 1962, a second exit opened as a pavilion in the park on Botkinskaya Street, built to the design of the same architect. Today Ploshchad Lenina remains a through station on Line 1, between Chernyshevskaya and Vyborgskaya, serving Finland Station and the surrounding district.
Tickets and Booking for Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Ploshchad Lenina needs no ticket of its own: you pay for a ride on the Saint Petersburg Metro. The fare is a flat one regardless of distance (₽).
- Contactless bank card: accepted at turnstiles marked for bank-card payment, but whether a card issued outside Russia works varies, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict the use of Russian payment services, so check this yourself before you travel.
- Podorozhnik card: a reusable transport card sold at metro ticket offices, and usually the simplest option for visitors who plan several rides.
Rates for Russian citizens and concession categories differ from the standard fare. The station is busy in the weekday morning and evening rush and at commuter train arrivals. The official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro lists current fares, payment methods and categories.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 1 (the red Kirovsko-Vyborgskaya line) towards Devyatkino and get off at Ploshchad Lenina, after Chernyshevskaya and before Vyborgskaya. From Ploshchad Vosstaniya it is two stops.
On arrival: the first vestibule is inside Finland Station on Lenin Square. A second pavilion stands in the park on Botkinskaya Street.
By tram, bus or on foot: several city routes stop at the square, and the Cruiser Aurora is a walk across the Neva by the nearby bridge.
Accessibility
Ploshchad Lenina is a very deep station reached by long escalators. Whether a lift or other step-free route is available was not verified for this article, so check the accessibility information on the official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro and consider asking staff before you travel, especially with luggage or a wheelchair.
Food Nearby
There are no verified cafes inside the metro hall. Finland Station has cafes and kiosks, and the streets around Lenin Square and Botkinskaya Street have more places to eat.
What to Bring
A payment card or a Podorozhnik card, and your train ticket and ID if you are changing to a train. Warm clothing in winter, as the square is open and windy.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Lenin Square, at the monument
The statue of Lenin on the armoured car with the facade of Finland Station behind it.
Best time: Daylight, ideally in clear weather.
End wall of the hall at the mosaic
The mosaic of Lenin's speech seen from a few metres back with the pylons framing it.
Best time: Between trains, when the platform is clearer.
Across the tracks to the 1958 grilles
Decorative grilles carrying the date 1958 along the track wall.
Best time: Off-peak, when fewer passengers cross the frame.
Platform of Finland Station with the old locomotive
Steam locomotive number 293 on display at the railway station, a link to Lenin's journey.
Best time: Daylight, outside the commuter rush.
Photography Rules
Casual photography on the platform is generally tolerated, but tripods and professional filming typically need permission from the metro. Do not block the escalators or passengers, and avoid photographing staff or other people.
Family Suitability
Workable for families, especially for children who like trains, since the railway station is next door. The long escalator ride and the crowds at train arrivals need care with small children, and strollers should be folded or carried. A visit takes only a few minutes.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Look at the Lenin monument on the square before you go down; it is right at the entrance.
- Check for the steam locomotive on a platform of Finland Station if you have a few minutes.
- Look across the tracks for the grilles dated 1958.
- Allow extra time for the long escalator, especially with luggage.
- Use the second pavilion on Botkinskaya Street if you are heading to the park or the hospital area.
- Check the timetable for commuter trains if you plan a trip to the Gulf of Finland from the station.
Explore Nearby Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Cruiser Aurora, Saint Petersburgabout 1.1 km away (~18 min walk) · typical visit: 1–1.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Museum of Political History of Russia, Saint Petersburgabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Finlyandsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Vyborgsky District · All Metro Stations · All Metro Stations in Saint Petersburg · All Other Hubs · All Saint Petersburg
FAQ: Ploshchad Lenina Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Do I need a ticket to see Ploshchad Lenina station?
You need to pay for a metro ride to enter the platform area. There is no separate sightseeing ticket. See the fares section for payment options.
Why is it called Ploshchad Lenina?
It is named after Lenin Square, in front of Finland Station, where Lenin arrived by train in April 1917 and spoke from an armoured car.
How deep is the station?
It is among the deepest stations in the city; sources give about 67 to 71 metres, so the escalator ride is long.
What is the mosaic in the hall?
A mosaic by the artist Korolev dedicated to Lenin's speech to the workers and soldiers of Petrograd on 3 April 1917.
Can I take a train from here?
Finland Station next door runs commuter trains to the Gulf of Finland and the Karelian Isthmus. International services have been suspended, so check the timetable.
Is there anything to see outside?
Yes, the monument of Lenin on an armoured car stands on the square, and a steam locomotive is displayed on a platform of the railway station.
How do I get there from the centre?
Take Line 1 towards Devyatkino; Ploshchad Lenina is two stops after Ploshchad Vosstaniya. See the getting there section for details.
Is it worth a special trip?
If you are interested in the history of 1917, yes, and it is easy to combine with the Cruiser Aurora. Otherwise it is a quick stop on Line 1.
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Last updated: October 16, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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